Apparatus for operating water-gas sets



June lo, 1924. 1,497,246

` P. PLANTINGA APPARATUS FOR OPERATING WATER GAS SETS Filed Nov. 6. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

June 10, 1924., 1,497,246 P. PLANTINGA APPARATUS FOR OPERATING'WATER GAS VSETS Filed Nov. 6 1920 4 ts-Sheet 2 Mmw June 10, i924 P. PLANTINGA APPARATUS FOR OPERATING WATER GAS SETS Filed Nov. 6 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1u, 19:24 ,1,497,246

P. PLANTINGA APPARATUS FOR OPERATING WATER GAS SETS Filed Nov.v e, 1920' 4 sheets-sheet 4` @y l, v @8f/@Www f i 1 new .the alternate blows17 Patented lune l0, 1924.

:PIERRE PLANTINGA, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING WATER-GAS SETS.

Appncann med November e, 1920. serial No. 422,352.

To Iliff/10m if may con-cern:

Be it known that I, Pinnen PnANTiNcA, a citizen ot' the llnited States, resident of Cleveland. county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Operating lVater-(las'Sct-s, of which the 'following is a specilication, the principle oit' the invention being herein explained and .the best mode in which l have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other` inventions.

My invention relates to apparatus for automatically operating water gas sets.

As it well known to those skilled in this art,-in the manufactiire of water gas, as it is -commonly practised, generating. apparatus is utilized provided with a number of valves which must be operated in proper sequence and periodically, in order to effect and runs forming the necessary cycle of operations. are a number of the-se valves, and inasmuch as one cycle of operation does not take over seven or eight minutes, the valves must be frequently manipulated. Furthermore, inasmuch as it is in'iportant that the valves be manipulated at exactly the right moment, manual operation thereof is frequently quite detrimental to satisfactory gas-making. The valves counnonly 'forming part ot this al'iparatus are six in number. and in the suggestive exemplification of this standard feature of the invention in the accompanying drawings l have shownlsix valves, but ditferent numbers of valves are used in different .gas-making operations. These valves are known as, generator and carbureter blast valves, a snperheater stack'valve, a generator steam valve, a carbureter oil valve, and a reversing valve. This latter valve, 1ncluding so-called upper and lower hot gas valves, is utilized for reversing the direction of travel of the gas through the generator to provide either a so-called uprun`7 or a so-called "down-run. during the gas-making period, which is the second period oi operation during one cycle of operations. During the lirst period of operation, commonly called the blow, the generator and carbureter blast valves are open and the stack valve is open, and the operation continues untilthe temperature of the generator fuel and the checker brick is high enough for gas making. This period of operation commonly takes three of four minutes. During There the second period, or run, the blast valves are closed and the stack valve closed, and the steam and oil valves are open. This period of operation also consumes three or four minutes'. Sometime during this period, the reversing valve is operated to change the direc-tion of gas run through the generator, the up and down runs varying for different gas-making operations. All of this is Well known to those skilled in the art, as is also the fact-.that the manipulation of the valves is not as simple as hereinbefore briefiy noted, the blow and run operations each requiring several detailed manipulations of the valves, in order properly to carry out the cycle.

Other apparatus intended automatically to actua-te these valves is known to those skilledin the art, so that it is the design of this invention to simplify and perfect the 4apparatus for accomplishiinc,T this purpose.

Particularly it is the design of this invention to directly lconnect automatically operated actuating means to certain elements controlling the operations' of the several apparatus valves.

The annexed drawings and the following description set -lorth in detail 4certain'meaus embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but oneof the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings :H

Figure l represents a side elevation of water gas apparatus, a suggestion of my improved means for automatically operating the same being therein indicated;

Figure 2` represent-s a top plan view taken uponthe plane indicated by the line lI--II in Figure 1;

Figure 3 represents an end elevation of my improvement, taken from the plane indicated by the line Ill-III, Figures 1 andfl;

Figure 4 represents a side elevation taken i tion; and

Figure 8' represents a vertical, lon'gitudinal section of one of said valves, taken in the plane indicated by the line VIH- V III, Figure 7.

Referring to the annexed drawings, in which the same ordinals designate like parts in the several views, 1 indicates the generator, 2 the carbureter, 3 the superheater, 4 the hydraulic seal, and 5 the gas outlet of water gas apparatus. A stack valve is 1n^ dicated by 6, annpper hot gas valve by 7, a lower hot gas valve by 8, a carbureter blast valve by 9, a reversing steam valve by 10, a carbureter oil valve by 11, a generator blast valve by 12. and a generator steam valve by 22. Hydraulic cylinders are provided for operating these valves, 13 and 14 indicating, respectively, a cylinder and plunger for the stack valve 6. The actual connection of the plunger 14 with the stack valve 6 is effected Iby a link 15 and an arm 16 pivotally connected together. A cylinder and plunger for the generator blast valve 12 areindicated by the, ordinals 17 and 18. The plunger 18 is integral with the stein of the generator blast valve 12. A cylinder and plunger tor the carbureter blast valve are indicated, respectively, by the ordinals 19 and 20. A cylinder and plunger for the valve 22 is indicated by the ordinal 21. This hydraulic cylinder 21 operates the generator steam valve 22, which controls entirely the. steam entering by the line 22. A cylinder and plunger for the oil valve 11 are indicated respectively by the ordinals 23 and 24. A cylinder and plunger for the upper hot gas valve 7 are indicated respectively by the ordinals 25 and 26. Steel bars 27 are connected to the plunger 26 and carry at their outer free end a counterweight 27 Secured inter1nediately of the ends of the bars 27 are links 28 which are pivotally mounted at their other ends upon the casing of the upper hot gas valve 7. The stem 29 of the lower hot gas valve 8 is secured to the steel bars 27 intermediately the eounterweight 27 and the point 28 atwhich the pivot links 28 are secured to said steel bars 27. The steel bars 27 are also secured to the steam valve 10 by means of a connection 30 so that the reciprocal movements of said bars 27 will effect the reversing of the steam valve 10, which is a three-way valve and controls the direction of the steam through the generator 1 to effect the up or down run ot gas, as desired. Aline for the air blast is indicated by the ordinal 31, and this blast is controlled by the generator blast valve 12. The blast enters the generator 1 at the bottom, and the top outlet from the generator is indicated' by the ordinal 32. This outletis controlled by the upper hot. gas valve 7. A bottom outlet from the generator 1 is indicated by the ordinal w, and *his outlet is controlled by the lower hot gas valve 8. A gas passage from the generator 1 to the carbureter 2 is indicated by the ordinal 31. The bottom outlet 33 from the generator 1 connects into the bottoni of the gas passage. k

reverse the steam valve 10 and the stein Q9 of the valve 8 will be raised so as to openv the lower hot gas valve 8. wherebythe valve arrangement will be such as to reverse the direction ot gas flow through the generator 1, resulting in a "down run.

The gas-generating operations so l'ar de scribed are well-knownto ythose versed in the art, and l shall now describe automatically operated mechanical means tor causing the operation in proper sequence and periodically of the several hydraulic c vlinders. rectly by a nest of hydraulic valves it. which determine the direction of Huid move ment to and from the hydraulic cylinders. Pipes 35 and 35, Figure 8, connect the `several hydraulic cylinders with the several valves 36, there being a pair ot' said pipes for each cylinder, the same being illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 1 and the pipe 35 leading to one end of the hydraulic cylinder, and the pi e 35 leading to thev other end of the hy raulic cylinder. The, action of the hydraulic valve 36 is well known, and will be only briefly described. A nest ot' the valves is shown in Figure 7, and a transverse. vertical section through one of the valves is shown in Figure 8. From any suitable source, water under pressure enters the inlet manifold 37. and is discharged from the valves 36 through the exit manifold 38. A reciprocating plunger 39 controls the direction of movement. through the valve 36 of the water, the position of said plunger 39, Figure 8, being that in which the water is presumed to 'How from the valve 36 to o ne end of one of the apparatus-valve-controlling cylinders to open the valve, and to return to the valve 36 from the other end of the apparatus-vaIve-controlling cylinder.

It is the design of my invention to reciprocate the hydraulic valve pistons 39 by direct connection with automatically operated and properly timed mechanical means. To each piston 39 is secured an operating rod Ll0,`14`igtire 4, the outer end of which is tapped into a connection 41 which is pivotally connected by the link 42 to the end of the square plunger 43 mounted in These cylinders are controlled di.-

Sill

Hifi

bearings 43 supported in-a frame 51. The

faces of the plunger are mountedv at a fortydle 45 being pivotally secured to the bracket 46 supported by the frame 51, as plainly shown in Figure 4. The purpose. -of the handle 45 will be hereinafter fully explained. It will be remembered that there is provided one plunger 43 and the other connected elements for each of the valves Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, suitable primary power means, such as the motor 47, is therein shown, the motor shaft being indicated by the ordinal48, and a suitable change gear set, by the ordinal 52. A shaft 52', which is rotated at the desired speed by the motor 47, in turn operates a silent chain 49 Which rotates a shaft 50, Figure 3, suitably mounted in the frame 51. Anl eccentric 53 secured to the shaft 50 operates a rod 56 secured at its outer end 57 to a bar 58 pivot-ally mounted upon a shaft 55, hereinafter more fully described. Upon the outer end of the bar 58 is mounted a pawl-59. The shaft is also suitably rotatably supported. in the frame 51 and thereto is secured a ratchetwheel 54 which is adapted to be turned one tooth, at every revolution of the shaft 50, by the pawl 59. Also secured to the shaft 55 are six pairs of disks 60, each having one or more peripheral notches 61, There is provided one pair of -these disks for each of the plungers 43 reeiprocatingthe valve pistons 39.

Referring to Figure 3, it Will be noted that one end of the shaft 50 is provided with a crank arm 62 whichis secured at its outer end to a vertical connecting rod 63. Mounted in the frame 51 and extending transversely thereof is a bar 64 to which is secured an arm 65 which at its other endy ing fingers and 71', respectively, and be,

ingmounted on a pair of rods 72 intermediately the lingers 70 and 71 and the pivotal connection of' the pawls with the upper ends of the bars 69. By means of springs .7 3,- secured' toy the'pawls at theendk thereof opposite that upon whichthe finger 70', is.fo1med,fthe'pawl tendsto lie1 ina position in vvwhich the finger is in' its ,most elevated" YLposition. 71 intersect the notches 61 formed in'thc respective disks 60'-o`f.th e pair of disks.

There is provided aset of the elementsf67A and 68 for each of the hydraulic valves 36. 'lhe purpose of the pair of bars 69 and associated elements is'to' control the movements of the actuating. means`40, 43, etc., in both directions. Suitably secured in ..the frame 51 and transversel "thereot,-are-a pair of bars 78 and 83. pon the bar 78 visrrig'idly mounted a locking-out leveri7 4 formedwvith a catch 75 Within which is mounted a springcontrolled pin 76ada-pted to register with a pair of holes 77 formed in the frame 51.

Also ixedly' mounted upon the respective l bars 78 and 83 area pair of locking-out dogs 79. A downwardly extending link 80 is secured'to the locking-out lever 74 and pivotally` mounted upon the outer end of this link 8() are links 81 to whose` other end is vpivot-ally secured a lever 82. This lever 82 is fixedlyv mounted 4upon the rod 83. When the spring-controlled pin 76 is removed from the hole'77 in which it is shown as being mounted in Figure 4, and the locking-out lever 74 then moved across the face of the frame 51 -and the pin 76 locked in the empty hole 77 shown in Figure 4, the free outer ends of the locking-out dogs 79 are turned upwardly and intersect the spring-connected end ofthe pawls 70 and 71, whereby the other ends of the pawls are turned downwardly about the rods 72, so that it is impossible forthe fingers 70 and 71 to be pressed into the notches 61 formed upon the disks 60.

The afore-described apparatus rocks the arms 67 -at every revolution of the shaft 50. Inone direction of the rocking movement the right hand set, Figure 4, ofthe dogs 68 will move the plungers 43 to the right, and

lin the other direction of movement the left hand set of dogs 68 will move the plungers 43 to the left., if said dogs are in a position where they contact with shoulders 84 formed on vthe plungers 43, Figure 4. These shoul- -ders l84 are formed on the plungers 43 by means of removing a portion of the plunger, as plainly shown in Figures 4 and 5. However, this contact of the dogs 68 with the shoulders 84 is allowed to take place only when it is desired yto move the particular plunger 43 and consequently the, valve plunger 39 controlling the hydraulic cylinder whose piston it is desired to" operate. The apparatus allows this action to take place, for each particular hydraulic `cylindeigwhen the fingers 70 and 7l are pressed into the notches 61, the timing being correct to reg- "ister the .fingers 70 and 71an`d the notches AThese lingers 70 andg lUJS (il at the desired times. The rod 69, as will be. readily understood, during the movement. of the lingers 7U into the notches A(il` is forced downwardly to move the dogs 68 within the space formed by cutting away a portion ot` the plunger 455. The right and let't hand dogs (38, of course, control the right and lett hand movements ot the plunger 425, for the particular hydraulic cylinder involved, the. movement in one direction sendingjthe fluid into the top ot' the cylinder and the movement i'n theothcr direction sending the tluid into the bottom of the cylinder. Dependent upon the number of actuations per cycle ol" operations of any particular valve ol' the six main apparatus valves, the disk 6() is t'ormed with one. two, or the required number ot notches (3l. cach notch (il allowing forone movement ot the means operating the valve piston B9. All ot the bars 67 are rocked every time the shaft 50 rotates, and such movement of the bars 67 and the dogs 68 are merely idle ones except when the fingers 70 and 7l intersect the notches 61, in which event the dogs 68 are then in a position to contact with the shoulders 8&1. duc to the trigger action of the dogs under the pull of' the springs 73. The action of the riehtand lett hand dogs ot' each pair are absoutely independent. one ot them probably being in an effective position to move. the plunger 43 in one direction when the. other is in an ineffective position, and vice versa, or both of them heilig in ineffcctive positions, and remaining so for a number otl revolutions of the shat'ty 5t).

If, for any reason` it is desired or 'necessary manually to operate the plunger 43, the dogs (38 are locked permanently out ot engagement with the shoulders R4 and this is effected by means ot' the locking-out lever 74 and the locking-out dogs 79 and their cooperating mechanisms hereinbetore described. The. dogs 68, of course. are locked out of possible engagement with the shouli ders 84 permanently because the pawl lingers 70 and 71 cannot be pressed into the notches 61 or, in other words, the springs 73 cannot perform their normal function, when the. notches 61 come into alignment with said fingers. In order to etlect the manual operation of the plungers 43, the links 44 are attached to the outer ends of the respective plungers and the respective handles 45 actuated to produce the necessary cycle of gas-making operations.

Wvhat l claim is: I

1. In apparatus for operating a water gas set` the combination with gas'generating apparatus having valves controlling the operation of said apparatusro'f hydraulic cylinders connected respectively to said valves of the apparatus, a battery of hydraulic valves connected to said cylinders tor controlling the direction of fluid movement therethrough, continuously operating valve shitting means for `said hydraulic valves, and independent time controlled coupling means consisting ot' a reciprocable device connected to the valve shitting means and oppositcly acting lat'ching means on the rcciprocable device Jfor connecting the hydraulic valves in proper sequence to said valvel operating means.

2. 1n apparatus for operating water gas sets, the combination with gas generating apparatus having controlling valves: of a hydraulic cylinder for each valve. a battery ot' hydraulic valves having outgoing and return connections with said cylinders for. controlling the direction ot flow ot fluid through the cylinders, continuously operating valve. mechanism including a reciprocating part and selectively operable and oppositely acting latches for connecting the continuously reciprocating part to a valve at predetermined times and for operation in a predetermined direction.

3. In apparatus for operating a water gas set, the combination with gas generating apparatus including controlling valves: a cylindertor each valve, a controlling valve for each cylinder to regulate the flow of l'luid in opposite directions through the cylinders. a continuously operating reciprocating f member. oppositely acting pawls carried by said reciprocating member for interlocking engagement with the cylinder controlling valves for opening and closing the same, and independent time controlled means connected to the pawls for selectively moving the same into interlocking engagement with the valves.

4. ln apparatus for operating a water gas set, the combination with gas generating apparatus including controlling valves: a hydraulic cylinder for cach valve. a hydraulic valve 'tor eac-h cylinder having a return circuit connection therewith and adapted to be operated for controlling the direction of How of fluid through the cylinders, operating means including a reciprollt) cating member having oppositely acting .i

pawls thereon. a bar connected to each hydraulic valve and having oppositcly tacing shoulders thereon lying beneath said reciprocating member. means for normally maintaining said pawls out of engagement with said shoulders` and time controlled means for periodically moving said paw-ls down into contact with said shoulders for moving the hydraulic valve in a desired direction and at the desired time interval.

5. In apparatus for operating a water gas set` the combination with gas-generating apparatus and valves controlling the operation of said apparatus: of hydraulic cylinders connected. respectively, to said apparatus-valves, hydraulic valves controlling the, direction ot fluid-movement to said cylinders, respectively, reciprocating pistons for said hydraulic valves, a driven shaft, means connecting said shaft with the several valve-pistons to reciprocate the latter, a second shaft, means secured to the first shaft and adapted -periodically to turn said second shaft, means normally rendering said piston-reciprocating means non-effective, and two sets of elements for each hydraulic valve operated periodically bythe turningL movements of said second shaft to allow the several piston-reciprocating means to function in timed relation.

6. In apparatus for operating a water gas set, the combination with gas-generating apparatus and valves controllin the operation of said apparatus; of hy raulic cylinders connected respectively, to said apparatus-valves, hydraulic valves controlling the direction of luid-movement to said cylinders, respectively, mechanical movable means for operating said valves, respectively, and including each a reciprocating member and a pair of oppositely operative latch dogs for interlocking engagement with its valve to open and close the same, primary ower means, and movable means actuated ysaid power means and adapted automatically and selectively to retract said latch dogs and cause some of the movements of said hydraulic-valve-operating means to be ineffective.

7. In apparatus for operating a Water gas set, the combination with gas-generating apparatus and valves controlling the operation of said apparatus; of hydraulic cylinders connected respectively, to said apparatus-valves, hydraiilic valves controlling the direction of Huid-movement to said cylinders, respectively, mechanical movable means for operating said valves, respectively, primary power means, means actuated by said power means and adapted normally to render ineHective the movements of said hydraulic-valve-operating means, and means controlled by the movements of said poweractuated means and adapted selectively to effect a trigger-release of said hydraulicvalve-operatmg means.

Signed by me this 14; day of October, 50

PIERRE PLANTINGA. 

